Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Winter Blues
Okay, so we're coming up to the part of the year that is most depressing. The snow doesn't look pretty anymore, definitely not a winter wonderland, and spring is still far enough away that you aren't quite prepared to trade in the winter coat for a lighter one. Everything looks grungy, there's little bits of trash that have been hidden by snow showing up, and it's not even really possible to do things like hiking because everything is icy.
Blech!
I wish I could tell you I had a fabulous way to overcome the lack of good spirits this time of year inspires. I don't. I just want to curl up in bed and read trashy fan fiction with a cup of minty hot chocolate. Maybe it's not so surprising that the stories I've been working on the last few weeks have been rather dark. Child prostitution, murder, revenge -- I've found myself delving into some really depressing topics.
So, maybe the best way to deal with the pre-spring blahs, is to embrace them. Use the time to write those scenes that are dreary and morbid, the kinds of things it's hard to write when the sun is shining and the world looks so damn cheery you half expect flowers to sprout up out of nowhere.
I've struggled all winter to finish a story I started while camping last summer. It took me until today to realize I was struggling so hard with it because my mind wasn't happy writing beach scenes when my fingers were numb with cold and I was bundled under extra blankets. (curse you furnace!!!! Why couldn't you have lasted just a few more weeks?) So, until the weather perks up again, I'll be writing a story set in the cold of space, where the hero is a victim, a prostitute, and soon, a conspirator to mass murder....kinda makes him seem unlikable, but that's the point of the story. Just like this dreary time of year, life in this future, especially in space, isn't sunshine and roses.
Hopefully, in a few weeks, the spring flowers will start poking through the ground, and I can move on to something less depressing. I'm sure everyone else is looking forward to spring as well.
Blech!
I wish I could tell you I had a fabulous way to overcome the lack of good spirits this time of year inspires. I don't. I just want to curl up in bed and read trashy fan fiction with a cup of minty hot chocolate. Maybe it's not so surprising that the stories I've been working on the last few weeks have been rather dark. Child prostitution, murder, revenge -- I've found myself delving into some really depressing topics.
So, maybe the best way to deal with the pre-spring blahs, is to embrace them. Use the time to write those scenes that are dreary and morbid, the kinds of things it's hard to write when the sun is shining and the world looks so damn cheery you half expect flowers to sprout up out of nowhere.
I've struggled all winter to finish a story I started while camping last summer. It took me until today to realize I was struggling so hard with it because my mind wasn't happy writing beach scenes when my fingers were numb with cold and I was bundled under extra blankets. (curse you furnace!!!! Why couldn't you have lasted just a few more weeks?) So, until the weather perks up again, I'll be writing a story set in the cold of space, where the hero is a victim, a prostitute, and soon, a conspirator to mass murder....kinda makes him seem unlikable, but that's the point of the story. Just like this dreary time of year, life in this future, especially in space, isn't sunshine and roses.
Hopefully, in a few weeks, the spring flowers will start poking through the ground, and I can move on to something less depressing. I'm sure everyone else is looking forward to spring as well.
Labels: writing life
Thursday, March 05, 2009
On Your Mark, Get Set...Goals
Hi everyone,
It's the first part of March and I'm reviewing the goals I've set for myself this year.
I finally pinpointed how to fix my hero's GMC (goal, motivation and conflict) in a novella series. I've got a specific house to submit this to so I'm really excited about it.
My Young Adult paranormal is finished (but needs polishing) and I've got a specific house for it, too.
Time wise I'm a little behind schedule. I didn't plan on so many physical issues. Ah well, such is life.
The upside this year, I'm going to the Lori Foster Reader/Author event in June. I'll get to see two of my crit partners as well as talk to some industry professionals. Networking is vital in this business but it's something I enjoy.
Despite the downturn of the economy, I'm very optomistic about the publishing industry. The continuing upward trend of ebooks is encouraging as well.
So, I'm focused on finishing up projects and submitting. Keep checking back on the Daughters blog and my weekly blog at Writers Gone Wild for news.
My latest story Cowboy of the Night, part of the Legends of Loving, Texas series will be out soon from Red Rose Publishing.
Hugs,
Tambra
www.tambrakendall.com
Labels: goals, Lori Foster, Red Rose Publishing, writing life
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Finding Your Groove
Imagine, if you will, the perfect quiet household, soft music playing in the background, everyone asleep and there's nothing but you and the words you pour out on the page. You're in the zone, everything is perfect, and the book will be done. Not only that, but it will be done early, need little to no edits and the editor will say it's the most brilliant thing you've ever written.
That's not my world.
If the world was perfect and nothing interrupted, writing would continue to be a breeze. That's not the way it works in the real world. Ever. :) I have a toddler who's far more hyperactive than most children (this from professionals LOL! He's my first kid, so how would I know the difference?). Work is a constant stress. I wake up at OMG that's early in the morning. And my husband has a full time job of his own. Where is that soft quiet time? The perfect writing moment when the muse speaks?
I have to fight for what I want. What I need. And writing IS worth it to me. It's something I feel passionate about and something I love. So ask yourself before you set the new goals for 2009: What do I feel passionate about? What do I want and am I willing to carve out time to make it so? Being frustrated is normal. If I waited for my fickle muse to get around to inspiring me, another home catastrophe would interrupt his magic.
If you think it's a silly idea, let me tell you a story. There's a guy I know, a strong willed man who was passionate about cooking. It was his hobby and he was really good at it, and since his retirement from web design, he had nothing but time to perfect it. His wife adored his cooking and wished he could reproduce some of those recipes, but he was a by the seat of his pants kind of guy.
One day, frustrated with his inability to remember some of the best recipes in the world, she convinced him to take his love of cooking and combine it with what he used to do for a living. Give him a place to put his creations and give him an interactive way of staying interested.
His excuses were many and the wife countered each one until the cook was forced to try it out or listen to her nagging for eternity. Since he was deaf in one ear already, that wasn't a comforting prospect.
Finally he did it, with his wife following him around with a notebook and pen to write down all his ingredients and preparation. The first recipe went up and the cook realized it was kind of neat to be able to go back and find his recipes again. So it continued. He struggled to find a way to make it work and the wife soon left him to his own devices, where he had to rethink the way he cooked. Instead of flinging things into the pan like always, he had to remind himself to take notes, to think his way through, to create the perfect recipe for his imaginary readers.
Writers are like that, don't you think? We start out young and fresh, slamming out words and stories until one day we make our sale. Then things change a bit. Now you're published and there are certain things expected of you. Learn your craft, write the story for reader's ease, make things easier on yourself by writing the story well to start with...
Continuing with the story...
So he created this blog, expecting no one to care, wondering if anyone paid attention. Suddenly strange things started happening. He got emails requesting help on this or that, received comments for his recipes, had others making his recipes and posting comments about it.
He perfected his art: photography, content, voice until he received acclaim from many other food bloggers and publishers in the food biz. He honed the tools necessary, and yes, some days it was a struggle. Some days he wondered why did what he did but at the end of the day he looked back over his work and said...wow. I did that. And it all started from one moment. One key moment that made him say, I can do that. Let me try and he's still doing his thing.
What tools do you need as an author? A good grasp of grammar, understanding conflict/resolution, finding that groove and sticking with it, muse or no muse.
The food blog market is flooded with bloggers, all trying to make a niche for themselves. Did he work hard to get what he needed? Yes. Did he have to work long hours outside his full time job to make it happen? Yes. Did he need to figure out how to balance his day job, family, and his blogging hobby? Yes.
You can too. But first...find that groove and set your 2009 goals. Good luck!
-- Dawn Montgomery
That's not my world.
If the world was perfect and nothing interrupted, writing would continue to be a breeze. That's not the way it works in the real world. Ever. :) I have a toddler who's far more hyperactive than most children (this from professionals LOL! He's my first kid, so how would I know the difference?). Work is a constant stress. I wake up at OMG that's early in the morning. And my husband has a full time job of his own. Where is that soft quiet time? The perfect writing moment when the muse speaks?
I have to fight for what I want. What I need. And writing IS worth it to me. It's something I feel passionate about and something I love. So ask yourself before you set the new goals for 2009: What do I feel passionate about? What do I want and am I willing to carve out time to make it so? Being frustrated is normal. If I waited for my fickle muse to get around to inspiring me, another home catastrophe would interrupt his magic.
If you think it's a silly idea, let me tell you a story. There's a guy I know, a strong willed man who was passionate about cooking. It was his hobby and he was really good at it, and since his retirement from web design, he had nothing but time to perfect it. His wife adored his cooking and wished he could reproduce some of those recipes, but he was a by the seat of his pants kind of guy.
One day, frustrated with his inability to remember some of the best recipes in the world, she convinced him to take his love of cooking and combine it with what he used to do for a living. Give him a place to put his creations and give him an interactive way of staying interested.
His excuses were many and the wife countered each one until the cook was forced to try it out or listen to her nagging for eternity. Since he was deaf in one ear already, that wasn't a comforting prospect.
Finally he did it, with his wife following him around with a notebook and pen to write down all his ingredients and preparation. The first recipe went up and the cook realized it was kind of neat to be able to go back and find his recipes again. So it continued. He struggled to find a way to make it work and the wife soon left him to his own devices, where he had to rethink the way he cooked. Instead of flinging things into the pan like always, he had to remind himself to take notes, to think his way through, to create the perfect recipe for his imaginary readers.
Writers are like that, don't you think? We start out young and fresh, slamming out words and stories until one day we make our sale. Then things change a bit. Now you're published and there are certain things expected of you. Learn your craft, write the story for reader's ease, make things easier on yourself by writing the story well to start with...
Continuing with the story...
So he created this blog, expecting no one to care, wondering if anyone paid attention. Suddenly strange things started happening. He got emails requesting help on this or that, received comments for his recipes, had others making his recipes and posting comments about it.
He perfected his art: photography, content, voice until he received acclaim from many other food bloggers and publishers in the food biz. He honed the tools necessary, and yes, some days it was a struggle. Some days he wondered why did what he did but at the end of the day he looked back over his work and said...wow. I did that. And it all started from one moment. One key moment that made him say, I can do that. Let me try and he's still doing his thing.
What tools do you need as an author? A good grasp of grammar, understanding conflict/resolution, finding that groove and sticking with it, muse or no muse.
The food blog market is flooded with bloggers, all trying to make a niche for themselves. Did he work hard to get what he needed? Yes. Did he have to work long hours outside his full time job to make it happen? Yes. Did he need to figure out how to balance his day job, family, and his blogging hobby? Yes.
You can too. But first...find that groove and set your 2009 goals. Good luck!
-- Dawn Montgomery
Labels: Dawn Montgomery, goals, Writing, writing life
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Coffee and Chocolate
Coffee and chocolate. These are my two mainstays. These work for me and here's why.
A recent study showed people who had a cup of coffee before exercising stayed with the program and finished compared to those who did not.
I have to watch my caffeine intake now, but still, I love my coffee.
Since I get migraines, I pull out the coffee maker and grinder when I feel one coming on.
Yes, I know my migraine meds have caffeine in it already, but many times making a pot of coffee and taking the meds will stop the headache or keep it from getting worse.
A cup of coffee will work if you're having an asthma attack. I know this from personal experience.
Inhaler, sip the coffee. This works because the caffeine helps open the bronchial passages.
Be sure and talk to your doctor if you want to try any of this. My doctor knows and says as long as it works, it's okay to keep doing this.
Dark chocolate is my reward for whatever I decide. Chocolate just makes you feel good and when I feel good I write better.
Chocolate coffee, oh yeah!
Simple pleasures that make life a little more enjoyable. The only other thing--you could add reading a Tambra Kendall title, while drinking a cup of chocolate coffee.
My newest release comes out in two weeks. Goin' Down Anthology book two from Aspen Mountain Press will be released July 18, 2008. www.aspenmountainpress.com
Join my yahoo group and stay up-to-date on all my releases and see what I offer for new writers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TambraKendall
Until next month!
Hugs,
Tambra Kendall
www.tambrakendall.com
A recent study showed people who had a cup of coffee before exercising stayed with the program and finished compared to those who did not.
I have to watch my caffeine intake now, but still, I love my coffee.
Since I get migraines, I pull out the coffee maker and grinder when I feel one coming on.
Yes, I know my migraine meds have caffeine in it already, but many times making a pot of coffee and taking the meds will stop the headache or keep it from getting worse.
A cup of coffee will work if you're having an asthma attack. I know this from personal experience.
Inhaler, sip the coffee. This works because the caffeine helps open the bronchial passages.
Be sure and talk to your doctor if you want to try any of this. My doctor knows and says as long as it works, it's okay to keep doing this.
Dark chocolate is my reward for whatever I decide. Chocolate just makes you feel good and when I feel good I write better.
Chocolate coffee, oh yeah!
Simple pleasures that make life a little more enjoyable. The only other thing--you could add reading a Tambra Kendall title, while drinking a cup of chocolate coffee.
My newest release comes out in two weeks. Goin' Down Anthology book two from Aspen Mountain Press will be released July 18, 2008. www.aspenmountainpress.com
Join my yahoo group and stay up-to-date on all my releases and see what I offer for new writers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TambraKendall
Until next month!
Hugs,
Tambra Kendall
www.tambrakendall.com
Labels: chocolate, coffee, writing life
